Quality Control, Assurance & Technical Program Management for New BAS

Project Background

Market: Government

In 2012, the General Services Administration (GSA) selected 30 Federal Office Buildings to participate in their National Deep Energy Retrofit (NDER) Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC) Program. Ameresco, a leading energy efficiency and renewable Energy Services Company (ESCO), was awarded the contract to renovate the GSA’s 1.2 million sq. ft. New Carrollton Federal Office Building and Silver Spring Metro Center 1, located in Lanham, Maryland. CQS was selected as the lead Building Automation System (BAS) consultant on the project.

New Carrollton Federal Office Building

General Services Administration (GSA) - New Carrollton Federal Office Building

The Problem

This $45 Million ESPC guaranteed a 60% reduction in energy and 56% reduction in water. The contract term was 22 years with a 3-year measurement and verification process using the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol Option C (Whole Building-Level). With various highly-complex Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), Ameresco requested the support of a Master Systems Integration (MSI) partner with the capabilities to champion the complicated integration and upgrade of the existing BAS.

Our Solution

In April 2013, CQS partnered with Ameresco to provide Quality Control & Quality Assurance Technical Program Management for the Design and Installation of the new BAS. CQS worked closely with GSA’s Information Technology and Smart Building Representatives groups to ensure that the BAS network infrastructure adhered to all GSA Smart Building Specifications and Requirements.

Implementation of the BAS network infrastructure involved installing a stand-alone network per the GSA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) requirements during construction after which we facilitated migration of the system onto the GSA network. The newly installed BAS integrated with a new advanced lighting control system to accomplish occupied/unoccupied airflow setpoint reductions-based space occupancy sensors. In addition, the BAS integrated to multiple third-party systems which included a central chiller plant, cooling towers, geothermal loop, heat recovery systems, and kitchen exhaust systems.

Results

As BAS Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), CQS:

  • Generated scopes of work, bid packages, and reviewed bid proposals
  • Identified and resolved scope gaps
  • Managed the installation of the BAS per GSA smart building guidelines
  • Ensured Direct Digital Control (DDC) compliance with all GSA smart building guidelines throughout the project implementation
  • Managed submittals and Requests for Information (RFIs)
  • Minimized the impact of change orders
  • Witnessed startup, commissioning, and close out of project